Mobile Node Multi-Base Node Relay for Communication Availability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face low availability and increased load on base nodes due to the lack of mechanisms for managing multiple home addresses and simultaneous use of multiple anchor points, leading to communication disruptions and failures, especially in long-duration communications like video streaming.

Innovation Solution

A mobile node selects and manages multiple base nodes to relay packets, setting control rules for forwarding communications, allowing seamless communication by distributing load and ensuring fault tolerance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single base node relays all communications for a mobile node, then the communication path is simple and easy to manage, but the availability decreases and the load on the base node increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication availabilityVSAvoidbase node management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication relay function by allowing a mobile node to use multiple base nodes (first base node and second base node) simultaneously. Different packets can be routed through different base nodes, distributing the load and improving availability. If one base node fails, communication can continue through the other base node, resolving the contradiction between simple management and high availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple communication paths by combining packets from different base nodes at the destination. The mobile node receives packets from both the first base node and the second base node, merging them into a single communication stream. This approach improves availability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized packet processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple base nodes are used to improve availability, then fault tolerance increases, but the complexity of managing multiple paths and addresses increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidpath control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a path control mechanism that acts as an intermediary to manage multiple communication paths. The path control unit selects which base node to use for each packet based on predefined rules or conditions, simplifying the management of multiple paths. This mediator approach allows fault tolerance through multiple base nodes while keeping the control logic manageable through systematic path selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If control rules are updated frequently to adapt to mobile node movement, then communication continuity is maintained, but the overhead of rule updates increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidcontrol message overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple base nodes as potential relay points before movement occurs. The mobile node and base nodes establish multiple communication paths in advance, so when movement occurs, the system can switch to a pre-established path without requiring frequent real-time rule updates. This reduces control message overhead while maintaining communication continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2978274B1Communication system, mobile node, mobile communication method and program
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 NEC CORP
  • EP2978274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2978274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2978274B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention improves the communication availability in a communication system in which a communication between a mobile node and a correspondent node is performed via a base node. A mobile node comprises: selection means that selects, from a base node(s), a base node that relays a packet(s) between the mobile node and a correspondent node; and rule change means that sets, in the mobile node and the selected base node, a control rule(s) for forwarding the packet(s) between the mobile node and the correspondent node via the selected base node.